Electronic Cigarette

ABSTRACT

An electronic cigarette includes a housing with an aperture leading to a receiving chamber within the housing wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodate a capsule; a piercing member configured to pierce the capsule within the receiving chamber; and a slidable cover configured to be moved between an open position in which a capsule can be introduced through the aperture and a closed position in which the slidable cover covers the aperture; wherein the piercing member and the slidable cover are coupled and configured to be moved in unison.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an electronic cigarette. An electroniccigarette is a handheld electronic device that generally emulates orreplaces the experience of smoking tobacco. Typically, a liquid isheated to generate an aerosol, or vapor, that is then inhaled by a user.The liquid in the e-cigarette usually comprises nicotine, propyleneglycol, glycerine, and/or flavorings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short, one canreplace the supply of the aerosol-generating liquid when it is depletedsuch that the electronic cigarette may continue to be used.

US 2017/0006917 A1 describes an e-vapor device including a capsulecontaining a pre-vapor formulation. The capsule is accommodated in amouthpiece of the e-vapor device that has to be removed from a housingof the e-vapor device when the capsule is to be exchanged. A puncturedevice such as a hollow needle is arranged within the housing topuncture the capsule in order to release the liquid and deliver it to aheater.

Convenience of use, and safety from injury, is an important factor fordesigning electronic cigarettes. In the known electronic cigarettes,such as the e-vapor device described above, it is often a cumbersomeprocess to replace the capsule. The user has, in the example givenabove, to unscrew the mouthpiece from its housing which may requireconsiderable effort given that the connection between the mouthpiece andthe housing is preferably liquid-tight. In addition, the puncture devicemay be able to injure a user when the user tries to pry the used capsuleout of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an electroniccigarette that is easier, safer and more convenient to use.

Therefore, an electronic cigarette with the features of claim 1 isprovided, as well as an electronic smoking system which comprises theelectronic cigarette with the features of claim 1 and which furthercomprises a capsule configured to be used with said electroniccigarette. An advantage of the slidable cover is that the access to thecapsule receiving chamber is facilitated, as the user does not have todismantle the electronic cigarette in order to replace the capsule.

Accordingly, the invention provides, according to a first aspect, anelectronic cigarette comprising a housing having an aperture leading toa receiving chamber which may also be designated as a capsule receivingchamber. The receiving chamber is configured to receive and accommodatea capsule within the electronic cigarette, in particular to completelyaccommodate the capsule within the receiving chamber in the interior ofthe housing.

The electronic cigarette further comprises a piercing member, which mayalso be called a puncture device, configured to pierce the capsulewithin the receiving chamber, preferably when it is accommodated in thereceiving chamber or after it has been accommodated in the receivingchamber.

The electronic cigarette further comprises a slidable cover configuredto be moved at least between an open position and a closed position. Inthe closed position, the slidable cover covers the aperture, preferablycompletely. A capsule is insertable into the receiving chamber only whenthe slidable cover is not in the closed position, preferably only whenthe slidable cover is in the open position.

By sliding the slidable cover into the open position, in which theaperture is preferably completely accessible from the outside, the useris able to take the capsule out of the receiving chamber through theaperture. In this way, the user does not have to remove, or disconnect,any part of the electronic cigarette when the user wants to replace thecapsule.

The electronic cigarette may have a housing of generally elongated form,e.g. a generally cylindrical housing. In this case, the slidable coveris preferably arranged to be slid in a longitudinal, or axial, directionalong the housing. However, the slidable cover may also be arranged tobe slid along a circumferential direction along the housing.

The aperture is preferably arranged in a lateral (or: circumferential)side of the generally elongated housing of the electronic cigarette. Inthis way, the axial continuity of the electronic cigarette is notinterrupted by the aperture, and a user of the electronic cigarette maycomfortably insert a capsule through the aperture without having toseparate any part of the electronic cigarette from one another.

The housing may be formed integrally with a mouthpiece, with theaperture arranged in between a distal and a proximal end of theelectronic cigarette. Preferably, the aperture is formed in a range ofbetween 20% and 80%, more preferably between 30% and 70%, even morepreferably between 40% and 60%, along the longitudinal direction of thehousing starting from the proximal end, i.e. at the mouthpiece.

However, in an alternative embodiment the slidable cover is rotatable,at least partially, around the axial direction of the electroniccigarette, whereby the slidable cover can be opened and closed dependingon the angular position of the cover in relation to the center axis ofthe electronic cigarette.

The capsule may be shaped spherically, or may have another geometricalshape such as a bean form, a bullet form or a conical form. The outershell or skin of the capsule which surrounds the liquid on the insidemay comprise, or consist of, a food grade material such as silicone. Theouter shell or skin of the capsule may consist of a single material, ormay comprise multiple materials. For example, the capsule may be formedwith a rigid outer shell having at least one opening sealed by a sealingmember made of a material that is more easily pierced by the piercingmember. For example, the sealing member may be a metal or plastic foil.

The present invention provides, according to a second aspect, also anelectronic smoking system comprising an electronic cigarette and acapsule configured to be inserted into the electronic cigarette and tobe pierced by the piercing member inside the receiving chamber of theelectronic cigarette.

The shape of the receiving chamber may be adapted to the shape of thecapsule so that capsules without certain geometrical features are notable to be inserted into the receiving chamber, thus preventing damageto the electronic cigarette and/or the use of unsafe capsules. Forexample, inserting a capsule that has a rigid, unpiercable section in aposition where the capsule would be pierced by the piercing member mightresult in damage to the piercing member.

The piercing member may advantageously be formed as a hollow needle withat least two openings, specifically at least one outlet opening in a tipof the needle and at least one inlet opening in the shaft, or body, ofthe needle.

Preferably, the piercing member is movably arranged in the electroniccigarette. This allows, for example, to design the receiving chamberwith smaller dimensions, as the piercing member may be moved to makeroom for inserting the capsule, through the aperture, into the receivingchamber. In addition, it allows for the piercing member to be moved intoa position that might be safer for the user during a time in which thepiercing member could otherwise be in a position to injure the user ifhandled carelessly.

Further advantageous modifications and embodiments are evident from thedependent claims and from the following detailed description and thedrawings.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is movable betweenan extended position and a retracted position, wherein the piercingmember extends into the receiving chamber in the extended position whenthe slidable cover is in the closed position. The piercing member isretracted from the receiving chamber in the retracted position when theslidable cover is in the open position.

In this way, the piercing member may be moved into the extended positione.g. to pierce the capsule to release the liquid contained therein, butmay also be moved to the retracted position where it may be easier toremove or insert the capsule, or where there is less potential dangerfor injury to the user by the piercing member. The piercing member maybe provided with an electronic or mechanical actuator to effect, orcause, the moving of the piercing member between the extended positionand the retracted position.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member and the slidablecover are coupled and configured to be moved in unison or substantiallyin unison. Preferably, the piercing member and the slidable cover arecoupled mechanically. In this way, the slidable cover itself doubles asboth a cover for the aperture and as the actuator for the movement ofthe piercing member. The slidable cover may even have additionalfunctions such as a function of activating the electronic cigarette andthe like.

This design is based on the idea that, when the piercing member is topierce the capsule, usually the slidable cover will have to be closed inany case, and, similarly, when the slidable cover is opened for thecapsule to be retrieved or inserted, there is no need for the capsule tocontinue to be pierced by the piercing member. On the contrary, thepiercing of the capsule by the piercing member may render retrieving thespent capsule more difficult, or may even prevent retrieving the spentcapsule. In fact, the piercing of the capsule by the piercing member maybe one, or the only one, way to fix the position of the capsule withinthe receiving chamber.

Advantageously, the piercing member and the slidable cover are coupledlinearly, i.e. a movement of the slidable cover along a certain distancecauses also the piercing member to move in the same direction. In thisway, when the slidable cover covers the aperture, the piercing membermay be disposed within the receiving chamber, and when the slidablecover is slid to reveal the aperture and the receiving chamber, thepiercing member is, slid away from the receiving chamber in unison withthe slidable cover so that the user may never be inconvenienced whencarelessly reaching into the receiving chamber.

In an especially simple design, the piercing member is moved along thesame distance, although along a parallel line, as the distance theslidable cover is moved. Alternatively, the electronic cigarette mayalso be designed such that movement of the slidable cover along acertain distance in a certain direction causes the piercing member to bemoved in an opposite direction and/or along a different, i.e. smaller orlarger, distance.

The slidable cover may be permanently coupled to the housing so that itcannot be removed from the housing. This advantageously prevents theslidable cover from becoming lost.

The slidable cover may be moveable (in particular: slidable) withrespect to the mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette. This allows usershaving the electronic cigarette inserted in their mouths to manipulatethe slidable cover at the same time. In this way, the electroniccigarette can be stabilized by the users' teeth, keeping their handsfree for manipulating the slidable cover and the cartridgesimultaneously. This is especially advantageous when the slidable coveris biased in the closed position so that the user has to exert someforce to keep the aperture open while preparing the capsule forinsertion, e.g. peeling away a wrapper or foil.

With similar advantages, the slidable cover may be arranged to bemoveable with respect to the distal end of the electronic cigarette,i.e. with respect to the end which often contains a power section, inparticular a battery. The distance between the distal end of theelectronic cigarette and the slidable cover in any position ispreferably smaller than 10 centimeters, more preferably smaller than 5centimeter, such that a user may hold the electronic cigarette at itsdistal end with some fingers of one hand, and may still manipulate theslidable cover with at least one finger of the same hand. Thus, theother hand is free for manipulating the capsule for inserting it intothe aperture.

For example, when the piercing member is smaller than the capsule in theaxial direction and thus also smaller than the receiving chamber and theaperture adapted to the size of the capsule, it is sufficient to movethe piercing member a small distance out of the way although theslidable cover has to be moved a larger distance in order to completelyreveal, or unblock, the aperture into the receiving chamber.

Similarly, in certain designs the piercing member may have largerdimensions than the receiving chamber in the longitudinal direction, forexample when it is intended that the piercing member emerges from oneend of the receiving chamber (e.g. the distal end with respect to themouth piece), pierces the capsule from end to end and is received byanother end of the receiving chamber (e.g. the proximal end with respectto the mouth piece). In that case, in order to completely remove thepiercing member from the receiving chamber when the slidable cover isslid to reveal, or unblock the aperture and the receiving chamber, thepiercing member may be configured to be moved, in unison with theslidable cover, along a larger distance than the slidable cover ismoved.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is configured toallow, or enable, extraction of the liquid stored in the capsule whenthe capsule has been pierced by the piercing member and the piercingmember is in the extended position. In this way, the piercing member maynot only serve to pierce the capsule but may also be used as part of aconducting system for conducting the liquid from the capsule to a heaterstructure of the electronic cigarette where the liquid is vaporized togenerate the aerosol (or vapor).

In some advantageous embodiments, the slidable cover is moveable in thelongitudinal, or axial, direction of the electronic cigarette.

In some advantageous embodiments, the slidable cover is rotatable aroundthe axial direction of the electronic cigarette, whereby the slidablecover can be opened and closed depending on the angular position of theslidable cover in relation to a center axis (along which the axialdirection is arranged) of the electronic cigarette.

In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette comprises avaporizer structure configured to vaporize the liquid to generate theaerosol. The piercing member may comprise at least one inlet opening ina portion of the piercing member that is disposed within the capsulewhen the capsule has been pierced by the piercing member and thepiercing member is in the extended position.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is provided withat least one inlet opening configured to receive liquid from the capsulewhen the inlet opening is located inside the capsule.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member further comprisesa delivery structure such as a conduit or a channel network or amanifold, the delivery structure fluidically connected to the at leastone inlet opening of the piercing member and configured to conduct theliquid stored in the capsule from the at least one inlet opening towardsa vaporizer structure of the electronic cigarette, in particular to aheater structure of the electronic cigarette.

In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette comprises aliquid intermediate storage portion for storing the liquid extracted, orconducted, from the pierced capsule somewhere between (spatially and/orwith respect to the direction of flow) the vaporizer structure and thecapsule. For example, the liquid intermediate storage may be used tomore finely regulate, and/or more uniformly distribute, the amount ofliquid conducted to the vaporizer structure.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member comprises a tipwith at least one outlet opening fluidically connected to the deliverystructure and, therefore, via the delivery structure to the at least oneinlet opening of the piercing member. The piercing member is configuredsuch that the at least one outlet is fluidically connected to the liquidintermediate storage portion when the piercing member is in the extendedposition. In particular, the piercing member may open into or onto theliquid intermediate storage portion for conducting the liquid stored inthe capsule to the liquid intermediate storage portion.

In some advantageous embodiments, the vaporizer structure comprises, orconsists of, a heater structure. The heater structure may be configuredto heat the liquid in order to generate the aerosol, or vapor. Theliquid intermediate storage portion may comprise, or consist of, a fibersuch as cotton, e.g. in the form of a fiber pad such as a cotton pad.

In some advantageous embodiments, the liquid intermediate storage isconnected to a wick extending to, or through, a heater structure of theelectronic cigarette for transporting the liquid from the liquidintermediate storage portion to the heater structure.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member in the retractedposition does not extend into the receiving chamber. In this way, thepossibility of any injury of the user caused by the piercing member isminimized, or eliminated.

In some advantageous embodiments, the piercing member is provided with acatch configured to engage with the capsule such that, when the piercingmember is being retracted from the extended position towards theretracted position, the capsule is pulled from a capsule seating withinthe receiving chamber. Such a capsule seating may be provided in thereceiving chamber according to any embodiments of the electroniccigarette.

When said catch is provided, the user does not have to manipulate, tounseat the capsule from its seating, the capsule inside the receivingchamber where there may be little room. In other words, the receivingchamber may be designed without additional space for the user to reachin and grab the capsule, as the capsule is unseated from the capsuleseating by the catch. In addition, the user may not want to manipulatethe capsule directly since the capsule might be covered by leakedliquid.

Advantageously, when the piercing member is configured to be retractedto a retracted position such that no part of the piercing member remainsin the receiving chamber, the wall of the receiving chamber into whichthe piercing member is retracted may be configured to release, orextricate, the piercing member from the capsule. In this way, retractingthe piercing member into the retracted position serves also to unseatthe capsule from its seating in the receiving chamber and also torelease the capsule from the piercing member. By turning the aperturetowards the ground, the user may then simply let the capsule fall out ofthe receiving chamber even though the capsule has previously been heldsecurely and tightly by the piercing member.

When, as has been described in the foregoing, the slidable cover and thepiercing member are furthermore coupled such that the piercing member isalways in the retracted position when the slidable cover is in the openposition, then opening the slidable cover serves also to perform thesteps described before. In this way, the user may have, at the time theuser has opened the slidable cover completely, have, at the same timeand without any additional effort, performed all necessary steps to beable to simply let the capsule fall out of the aperture of the receivingchamber and to insert a new capsule.

In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette comprises abiasing structure, such as a helical spring, that is arranged andconfigured to bias the slidable cover to one position, in particularinto, or towards, the closed position. Alternatively, or additionally,the slidable cover may be provided with a releasable catch to secure theslidable cover in the open position and/or in the closed position. Inthis way, an undesired opening or closing, respectively, of the slidablecover may be prevented.

In some advantageous embodiments, the housing is provided with anabutment limiting the movement of the slidable cover. One advantage ofthis is that the movements of the slidable cover are more restricted andthere is less, or no, chance for an inexperienced user to handle theelectronic cigarette wrongly.

In some advantageous embodiments, the electronic cigarette comprises acontrolling circuit configured to activate or deactivate the electroniccigarette based on the position of the slidable cover. In this way, theslidable cover, which may also serve for a number of different functionsas described in the foregoing, may also serve as anactivator/deactivator switch of the electronic cigarette. In this way,it is possible to provide less circuitry and less manipulatable elementsat the surface of the housing in the electronic cigarette, bringing downproduction cost and allowing more design choices for the exterior of theelectronic cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference toexemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings as appended.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate theembodiments of the present invention and, together with the description,serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intendedadvantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as theybecome better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scalerelative to each other.

In the following Figures:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette according to anembodiment of the present invention in a closed position;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the electronic cigarette of FIG. 1 inan open position;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a needle piercing member and slidablecover according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the function of a vaporizer structureaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette according toanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette according toyet another embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or functionally likecomponents, unless indicated otherwise. Any directional terminology like“top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “above”, “below”, “horizontal”,“vertical”, “back”, “front”, and similar terms are merely used forexplanatory purposes and are not intended to delimit the embodiments tothe specific arrangements as shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-section through an electroniccigarette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, FIG. 1 illustrates the electronic cigarette 10 in a closedstate. The schematic cross-section in FIG. 1 is intended to illustratethe workings of the electronic cigarette 10 and should not be taken asan accurate technical drawing. The electronic cigarette 10 comprises ahousing 12 with an aperture 14 leading to a receiving chamber 16arranged inside the housing 12. The housing 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1may have a generally elongated form, although other shapes are possible.

The receiving chamber 16 is configured to receive and accommodate acapsule containing a liquid within the electronic cigarette 10, inparticular to completely accommodate the capsule within the receivingchamber 16 in the interior of the housing 12.

The aperture 14 substantially corresponds to the shape and dimensions ofthe capsule such that the capsule can be easily introduced into thereceiving chamber 16.

The aperture 14 may, in axial direction and/or in circumferentialdirection, have the same, or substantially the same, dimensions as thereceiving chamber 16 in the respective directions. In this way, the usercan comfortably insert a capsule, through the aperture 14, into thereceiving chamber 16, without having to guide the capsule around andedge or the like.

The aperture 14 is preferably arranged in a lateral side of the housing12 of the electronic cigarette 10. In this way, the axial continuity ofthe electronic cigarette 10 is not interrupted by the aperture 14, and auser of the electronic cigarette 10 may comfortably insert a capsulethrough the aperture 14 without having to separate any part of theelectronic cigarette 10 from one another. FIG. 2 schematicallyillustrates the electronic cigarette 10 of FIG. 1 in an open state,wherein a capsule 40 has been inserted through the lateral aperture 14and accommodated in the receiving chamber 16. The capsule 40 isinsertable into the receiving chamber 16 only when the slidable cover 18is in the open position, in which the aperture 14 is preferablycompletely uncovered, or unblocked.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, the electronic cigarette 10 of furthercomprises a slidable cover 18 configured to be moved between openposition and a closed position. In the closed position, the slidablecover 18 covers the aperture 14.

The electronic cigarette may further comprises a seal 21 located betweenthe slidable cover 18 and the housing 12. A sealed connection betweenthe slidable cover 18 and the housing 12 enables a liquid-tightconnection when the slidable cover 18 is in the closed position in orderto avoid liquid from escaping from the receiving chamber 16.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slidable cover 18 is arranged to be slidin the longitudinal, or axial, direction along the housing 12. Theelectronic cigarette 10 further comprises a biasing structure 22. Thebiasing structure 22 may be realized as a helical spring as indicated inFIG. 1. Advantageously, the biasing structure 22 is configured to biasthe slidable cover 18 into the closed position (FIG. 1). In the openposition of the slidable cover 18, the biasing structure 22 iscompressed (FIG. 2).

The slidable cover 18 is in this embodiment moveable (in particular:slidable) with respect to the mouthpiece 50 of the electronic cigarette10 and/or with respect to the distal end of the electronic cigarette,with the advantages described in the foregoing for either and bothcases. In particular, having the possibility to fixedly hold theelectronic cigarette 10 (e.g. with a user's teeth or mouth) at themouthpiece 50 allows manipulating the slidable cover 18, overcoming thebiasing structure 22, with one hand and inserting the capsule 40 withanother hand.

The electronic cigarette 10 further comprises a piercing member 20,configured to pierce the capsule 40 when the capsule 40 is accommodatedin the receiving chamber 16 and the sliding cover is moved to the closedstate.

The piercing member 20 is configured to be moved in unison with thesliding cover 18 between the extended position and the retractedposition. In the extended position, the piercing member 20 extends atleast partially into the receiving chamber 16. In the retractedposition, the piercing member 20 is completely retracted from thereceiving chamber 16. When the piercing member 20 is completelyretracted, it does not extend into the receiving chamber 16, whereby itpositioned out of reach from the user.

The piercing member 20 and the slidable cover 18 are mechanicallycoupled such that they move in unison. Hence, when the sliding cover 18is moved, the piercing member 20 is moved in the same direction, andpreferably for the same distance. In this way, the piercing member 20 isin the extended position when then slidable cover 18 is in the closedposition, and the piercing member 20 is in the retracted position whenthe slidable cover 18 is in the open position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic detail of an exemplary embodiment of themechanical coupling between the sliding cover 18 and the piercing member20. As illustrated in the figure, a mechanical connection 19 is arrangedbetween the slidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20. The mechanicalconnection 19 may be an integral, stiff connecting element. However, themechanical connection 19 may also comprise a geared or mechanicaltranslation device.

The housing 12 may be formed with an abutment 28 configured to limit themovement of the slidable cover 18 in the longitudinal direction, oraxial direction A, of the electronic cigarette 10. The abutment 28 alsolimits the position of the piercing member 20, in the axial (orlongitudinal) direction A. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a variant is shown inwhich the abutment 28 limits the movement of the slidable cover 18 andthe piercing member 20 in the forward direction towards a mouthpiece 50of the electronic cigarette 10.

The slidable cover 18 comprises an abutting portion 30 that isconfigured to engage with the abutment 28 to restrict further movementof the slidable cover 18 in the longitudinal direction.

In the retraction direction, towards power section 32 of the electroniccigarette 10, the movement of the slidable cover 18 and the piercingmember 20 may be limited by a spring retainer 26. The power section maycomprise a battery for powering the electronic cigarette 10. The springretainer 26 prevents a translation of the biasing structure 22 andlimits the maximum compression of the biasing structure 22. The springretainer 26 may be a fixed portion on the housing 12 of the electroniccigarette 10. The spring retainer 26 may be encircling the body 12 andprovide a flange for retaining the biasing structure 22.

In an alternative (non-illustrated) embodiment the slidable cover isrotatable around the axial direction of the electronic cigarette 10,whereby the slidable cover can be opened and closed depending on theangular position of the cover in relation to the center axis A of theelectronic cigarette. The slidable cover can be spring-biased into aclosed position and the piercing member 20 can be connected to a motiontranslation mechanism, configured to convert a rotary displacement ofthe slidable cover to a linear displacement of the piercing member 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As seenin the figure, the electronic cigarette 10 may comprise a slidable block17, to which the piercing member 20 is connected. The slidable block 17is operationally connected to the slidable cover 18 and moves in unisontherewith. The slidable block 17 may further comprise the heaterstructure 46 and the wick 44, as described in the foregoing. Theslidable block 17 may be biased into a closed position by a biasingstructure 22.

As the slidable block 17 moves in the longitudinal direction, or axialdirection A, of the electronic cigarette 10, the piercing member 20 ismovable between an extended position and a retracted position. Thepiercing member 20 is configured to extend into the receiving chamber 16in the extended position when the slidable cover 18 is in the closedposition. The piercing member 20 is retracted from the receiving chamber16 in the retracted position when the slidable cover 18 is in aretracted position.

The slidable block 17 is connected to the power section 32, preferablythrough a first set of contacts 80 on the internal side of the housing12 and a second set of contacts 82 on the slidable block 17. The firstset of contacts 80 and the second set of contacts 82 are configured toalign when the piercing member 20 is in the extended position. When thefirst set of contacts 80 and the second set of contacts 82 are aligned,the electric circuit to the power section 32 is established.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an electronic cigarette 10 according toyet another embodiment of the present invention. The electroniccigarette 10 of FIG. 6 comprises a mouthpiece 50, a vaporizer structure24, a slidable cover 18 covering an aperture in a lateral side of theelectronic cigarette 10, a receiving portion (not shown) and a piercingmember (not shown) as described in the foregoing, e.g. with respect toFIG. 1-5.

In some preferred embodiments and variants, the housing 12 and themouthpiece 50 are formed integrally, i.e. in non-separably, with theaperture 14 being formed in the lateral side of the housing 12.Preferably, the slidable cover 18 is permanently (but slidably) coupledto the housing 12 and the mouthpiece 50 such that the electroniccigarette 10 comprises no, or almost no, detachable components. In thisway, there is no danger of losing any components as the only detachablepart is the capsule 40, even during a procedure of replacing a spentcapsule 40 with a new one.

The electronic cigarette 10 further comprises a sensor structure 49configured to detect whether the slidable cover 18 is in the open or inthe closed position, and to emit, via an output interface of the sensorstructure 49, a signal 71 indicating the determined position of theslidable cover 18.

The sensor structure 49 may employ any technique known in the art todetermine the position, or state, of the slidable cover 18. For example,the sensor structure 49 may comprise a capacitive sensor in which thecapacitance of an electronic element changes with the position of theslidable cover 18, a magnetic sensor in which a magnet field changeswith the position of the slidable cover 18, a circuit-type sensor inwhich an electric circuit is closed/opened in the closed/open positionof the slidable cover 18 (or vice versa), an optical sensor and so on.

The electronic cigarette 10 also comprises a controller 48 that isconfigured to receive the signal 71 and to activate and deactivate theelectronic cigarette 10, preferably the vaporizer structure 24 of theelectronic cigarette 10, based on the signal 71.

The controller 48 may activate (or deactivate, respectively) thevaporizer structure 24 by transmitting (or stopping to transmit,respectively), or allowing (or preventing, respectively) thetransmission of electrical energy, from the power section 32 to thevaporizer structure 24. When the vaporizer structure 24 is activated(active), it vaporizes the liquid L to create the vapor to be inhaled bythe user through the mouthpiece 50.

When the vaporizer structure 24 is deactivated (inactive), it does notvaporize the liquid L, e.g. because the heater structure 46 is notheating and/or because no liquid L is transmitted to the heaterstructure 46.

In particular, the controller 48 may be configured to activate theelectronic cigarette 10, preferably at least the vaporizer structure 24,when (and, optionally, only when) the signal 71 indicates that theslidable cover 18 is in the closed position, and to deactivate theelectronic cigarette 10, preferably at least the vaporizer structure 24,when (and, optionally, only when) the signal 71 indicates that theslidable cover 18 is in the open position.

The controller 48 may be implemented as pure hardware, i.e. comprisingtransistors, logic gates and other types or elements of circuitry.Additionally, the controller 48 may be partially realized in terms ofsoftware. As such, the controller 48 may comprise a processor and amemory storing a software or a firmware that is executed by theprocessor. The signal 71 may be received by an input interface of thecontroller 48 and signals that the processor of the controller 48creates may be outputted by an output interface of the controller 48.The controller 48 may be implemented as a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA and so on.

Alternatively, the sensor structure 49 and the controller 48 areimplemented in a purely mechanical way, e.g. in that an electricalcircuit that supplies electrical energy, or a signal allowing the supplyof electrical energy, to the vaporizer structure 24 and/or the deliverystructure, is only closed when the slidable cover 18 is in the closedposition, and is interrupted when the slidable cover 18 is not in theclosed position (e.g. in the open position).

It should be understood that instead of the mechanical coupling of theslidable cover 18 and the piercing member 20, both the slidable cover 18and the piercing member 20 may be configured to be moved electronically,i.e. by a motor. Limits for the movement of the slidable cover 18 andthe piercing member 20 may thus be either implemented by geometric formsas depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and/or may be implemented bycontrolling the motor to only move the slidable cover 18 and/or thepiercing member 20 within certain limits.

Although other arrangements are possible, in the shown embodiment avaporizer structure 24 is arranged, both functionally and spatially,between the mouthpiece 50 and the receiving chamber 16. The piercingmember 20 is configured to allow the liquid stored in the capsule 40 toleave the capsule 40 and to be delivered to the vaporizer structure 24.The vaporizer structure 24 is configured to vaporize the liquid togenerate the aerosol, or vapor, which is then inhaled by the userthrough the mouthpiece 50, according to techniques known in the art.

The functional relationship between the piercing member 20 and thevaporizer structure 24 in the electronic cigarette 10 of FIG. 1-3 isexplained in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a vaporizer structure 24 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Herein and in the following, the term “distal” is used as meaning“further removed from the mouthpiece 50” and the term “proximal” is usedas meaning “closer to the mouthpiece 50”.

The piercing member 20 may be further configured to traverse the wholeaxial length AL of the receiving chamber 16 extending from the distalwall 38 to a proximal end 39 of the receiving chamber 16. In theembodiment of FIG. 4, the capsule 40 is provided with similar dimensionsas the receiving chamber 16. In this way, the position of the capsule 40within the receiving chamber 16 can be held fixedly inside the capsulechamber by the contact between the capsule 40 and the internal wall ofthe receiving chamber 16. Additionally or alternatively, the receivingchamber 16 may comprise a capsule seating insert, which fixates thecapsule 40 inside the receiving chamber 16.

The piercing member 20 is further configured to contact, or enter, aliquid intermediate storage portion 42 arranged at the proximal end 39of the receiving chamber 16 with a tip, in particular a pointed tip, ofthe piercing member 20.

The preferably elongated, needle-like piercing member 20 comprises atleast one inlet opening 34 (e.g. the three openings 34 shown in FIG. 4)and at least one outlet opening. The at least one inlet opening 34 isarranged such that, when the capsule 40 is pierced by the piercingmember 20 and the piercing member 20 is in the extended position, the atleast inlet opening 34 is arranged within the capsule 40, within aliquid storage portion of the capsule 40.

Within the piercing member 20, there is a delivery structure 36 in theform of a conduit connecting the at least one inlet opening 34 to the atleast one outlet opening 35, which is arranged at the tip of thepiercing member 20. In this way, the liquid L is transported, e.g. bycapillary effect, from the storage portion of the capsule 40, via the atleast one inlet opening 34, the delivery structure 36, and the at leastone outlet opening 35 in the tip, and to the intermediate liquid storageportion 42. The intermediate liquid storage portion 42 may be a pad of afibrous or porous material such as cotton, silica, ceramics or silicon.

In the shown embodiment, the liquid intermediate storage portion 42 ispart of the vaporizer structure 24; however, the liquid intermediatestorage portion 42 and the vaporizer structure 24 may also be configuredas separate parts spaced apart from each other.

In the discussed exemplary embodiment, the liquid intermediate storageportion 42 is fluidically connected to a wick 44 that passes through, oradjacent to, a heater structure 46 such as a heating wire.

The liquid L is vaporized by the heater structure 46 to generate theaerosol inhaled by the user via the mouthpiece 50. By capillary effect,the vaporized liquid L in the wick 44 close to the heater structure 46is transferred from the storage portion of the capsule 40 via the liquidintermediate storage portion 42.

It will be understood that the shown functional and geometricalrelationship between the vaporizer structure 24 and the piercing member20 is only exemplary. For example, the piercing member 20 may beconfigured to emerge, when being extended from the retracted positioninto the extended position, from the proximal end of the receivingchamber 16. In this case, the piercing member 20 may be configured asnot completely traversing the receiving chamber 16, the tip of thepiercing member 20 may be intended to be positioned within the capsule40 in the extended position, and the at least one inlet opening 34 ofthe piercing member 20 might be configured and arranged to deliver theliquid L from the tip to a liquid intermediate storage portion.

While detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure. In particular, features presented and described inseparate dependent claims may be applied in combination and anyadvantageous combination of such claims are herewith disclosed.

Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to belimiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of theinvention. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one ormore than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two ormore than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at leasta second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, aredefined as comprising (i.e., open language).

It will be evident that the described embodiments may be varied in manyways. All such modifications as would be evident to one skilled in theart starting from what is explicitly described are intended to beincluded.

1. An electronic cigarette comprising: a housing having an apertureleading to a receiving chamber within the housing, wherein the receivingchamber is configured to receive and accommodate a capsule; a piercingmember configured to pierce the capsule within the receiving chamber;and a slidable cover configured to be moved between an open position inwhich a capsule can be introduced through the aperture and a closedposition in which the slidable cover covers the aperture; wherein thepiercing member and the slidable cover are coupled and configured to bemoved in unison.
 2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein thepiercing member is movable between an extended position and a retractedposition, and wherein the piercing member extends into the receivingchamber in the extended position when the slidable cover is in theclosed position and wherein the piercing member is retracted from thereceiving chamber in the retracted position when the slidable cover isin the open position.
 3. The electronic cigarette according to claim 1,wherein the piercing member is moveable in an axial direction of theelectronic cigarette.
 4. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3,wherein the slidable cover is moveable in the axial direction of theelectronic cigarette.
 5. The electronic cigarette according to claim 3,wherein the slidable cover is rotatable around the axial direction ofthe electronic cigarette, whereby the slidable cover can be movedbetween the opened position and the closed position depending on anangular position of the slidable cover in relation to a center axis ofthe electronic cigarette.
 6. The electronic cigarette of claim 2,wherein the piercing member is provided with at least one inlet openingconfigured to receive liquid from the capsule when the at least oneinlet opening is located inside the capsule.
 7. The electronic cigaretteof claim 6, wherein the piercing member further comprises a deliverystructure configured to conduct the liquid stored in the capsule fromthe at least one inlet opening of the piercing member towards avaporizer structure of the electronic cigarette.
 8. The electroniccigarette of claim 7, further comprising a liquid intermediate storageportion, wherein the piercing member comprises a tip with at least oneoutlet opening connected to the delivery structure; and wherein thepiercing member is configured such that the at least one outlet openingis fluidically connected to the liquid intermediate storage portion whenthe piercing member is in the extended position.
 9. The electroniccigarette of claim 8, wherein the liquid intermediate storage portion isconnected to a wick extending to, or through, a heater structure of theelectronic cigarette for transporting the liquid from the liquidintermediate storage portion to the heater structure.
 10. The electroniccigarette of claim 2, wherein the piercing member is provided with acatch configured to engage with the capsule such that, when the piercingmember is being retracted from the extended position towards theretracted position, the capsule is pulled from a capsule seating withinthe receiving chamber
 11. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, furthercomprising a biasing structure that is arranged and configured to biasthe slidable cover into the closed position.
 12. The electroniccigarette of claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with an abutmentlimiting the movement of the slidable cover.
 13. The electroniccigarette of claim 1, further comprising a controlling circuitconfigured to activate or deactivate the electronic cigarette based on aposition of the slidable cover.
 14. The electronic cigarette of claim 1,wherein the aperture is formed in a lateral side of the housing.
 15. Theelectronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece,wherein the slidable cover is slidable with respect to the mouthpiece.16. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein the piercing memberfurther comprises a conduit configured to conduct the liquid stored inthe capsule from the at least one inlet opening of the piercing membertowards a vaporizer structure of the electronic cigarette.
 17. Theelectronic cigarette of claim 16, further comprising a pad of a fibrousor porous material, wherein the piercing member comprises a tip with atleast one outlet opening connected to the delivery structure; andwherein the piercing member is configured such that the at least oneoutlet opening is fluidically connected to the liquid intermediatestorage portion when the piercing member is in the extended position.18. The electronic cigarette of claim 17, wherein the fibrous or porousmaterial includes cotton, silica, ceramics, or silicon.
 19. Theelectronic cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a spring that isarranged and configured to bias the slidable cover into the closedposition.